Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter One Perspectives on Human Sexuality

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sexuality in Popular Culture Is Shaped by the Mass Media, So We Should Ask: What kinds of sexuality are portrayed by the media? What messages about sexuality are sent? Who are the messages intended for? What messages are ignored or avoided? What shapes the selection by the media?

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Mass Media Portrayals of Sexuality Occur in Multiple Forms Television Movies Music Magazines, tabloids, books Hand held technology World Wide Web Advertising

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Media Portrayals of Sexuality Sell products Produce sexual arousal Increase sexual behavior Provide sexual information –Correct or incorrect

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Media Effects Live by: Keeping sexual behavior visible Reinforcing sexual and relationship norms Including irresponsible models

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Mass-media Depictions Are Meant to Entertain, Not Inform –Rarely present reality scenarios –Perpetuate the status quo –Create a social context by defining: What behaviors are appropriate With whom they are appropriate Why they are appropriate

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Television Increasing exposure and sexual content Rare presentation of risk Rare presentation of responsible action Unrealistic presentation of sexuality

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Television FCC regulation of public airwaves Enforces regulations via fines Responds to public grievances Does not regulate cable Parental responsibility

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Television Genres Comedy series Soap Operas Crime/action- adventure programs Drama series Commercials Music videos Games Other

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Television Genres Emphasize Different Types of Content Comedy series – Taboos Soap Operas – Sexual transgressions Crime/action – Sexual variation Drama series – Situations

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Television Genres Emphasize Different Types of Content (cont.) Commercials – Attitudes Music Videos – Individual expression Games – Exploitation & aggression Other – Variations –Note absence of risk or responsibility

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Feature Length Films Sexy content Nudity –Sexual double standard –Vulnerability –Rare presentations of risk or responsibility

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. GLBT People in the media Historically absent from mainstream films, presented stereotypically New trend to present GLBT in positive ways

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Online Sexual Activities Global Cybersex Online sex Web sites/chat rooms Meet new partners Safety

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Triple A Engine Access Affordability Anonymity

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Cybersex Real time event involving two persons engaging in sexual talk for the purpose of sexual gratification

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Online Sexual Activities Effect on Culture Crosses distance Promotes intimacy without physical contact Creates a new level of plasticity and expression Positive for expression of under represented groups Negative if it becomes compulsive or addictive

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Dial-a-Porn –Commercial telephone sex lines that enable the caller to anonymously “talk dirty” with someone –Phone worker is paid to respond to the caller’s fantasies –Creates a sense of “pseudo-intimacy” with the voice

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Cell Phone Sex Easy access Privacy Mobility Potential billion dollar industry

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sexuality Across Cultures and Times What is considered “natural” varies between cultures Culture molds and shapes our sexual interests

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Cultural Differences: Mangaia of Polynesia Adolescence have a high level of sexual desire Adolescents are instructed on how to please their partner A woman may leave a man who does not satisfy her Adulthood is marked by a decrease in sexual desire

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Cultural Differences: The Dani of New Guinea Little interest in sexuality Sex for reproduction Extra relational sex and jealousy is rare Female orgasm is unknown 5 year sexual abstinence between pregnancies

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Cultural Differences: Victorian Americans Women had reproductive desire rather than sexual desire Women with sexual desire classified as suffering from “nymphomania, or furor uterinus” Men were viewed as animal like Men had raging, uncontrollable sexual appetites

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Victorian Americans: Long Lasting Effects War between sexes Madonna – Whore dichotomy for women’s roles Women’s responsibility to tame men’s impulses Sexual double standard

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sexual Orientation The Pattern of sexual and emotional attraction based on the gender of One’s preferred partners Heterosexuality: between men and women Homosexuality: between persons of the same sex Bisexuality: both males and females

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Contemporary American Culture Heterosexuality is the only sexual orientation receiving full social and legal legitimacy State by state recognition of civil unions

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Homosexuality, Bisexuality, and Culture: Ancient Greece Roles for men –Highest form of love: Same-sex relationships between men –Between an older and a younger man –Men were also expected to be married Roles of women –Child bearing was associated with marriage –Courtesans

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Homosexuality, Bisexuality, and Culture: Sambians of New Guinea Sexual orientation is malleable across lifespan Young males engage in sexual activity with one another Adolescence marks the occurence of sexual activities between males and females Adulthood marks the end of sexual activities between males

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Gender and Culture Gender is the set of culturally- influenced characteristics associated with being male or female Not always defined by genitals only

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Transsexual and Transgender Persons Genitals and gender identities are discordant –A person born with a penis self-identifies as a woman –A person born with a vulva and vagina self- identifies as a man Not the same as transvestite

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Gender and Culture: Two spirits Biological males who assume female dress, gender role, and status Accepted as a “man-woman” and given spiritual status in several cultures worldwide

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Societal Norms and Sexuality Diversity across cultures and times –Calls into question what is inherently natural or normal How do we decide if a sexual behavior is natural or unnatural?

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Natural Sexual Behavior We have internalized the norm since infancy Is a part of “the cultural air we breathe” and like the air is invisible Our culture's rules seem instinctive

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Normal Sexual Behavior Behavior that conforms to a group’s average or median patterns of behavior Not related to moral or psychological judgments Many people feel pressure to behave like the statistical norm

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sexual Behaviors and Variations Sexual variety and diversity Exist on a continuum of frequency and behavior Activities can be typical or atypical of the group average —does not necessarily indicate deviance

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sexual Behaviors and Variations Many activities thought of as “deviant” are engaged in by most of us to some degree: –Exhibitionism –Voyeurism –Fetishism

Copyright ©2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Authors’ Standard Whether they are between consenting adults Whether they cause harm